Hezbollah Leader Reaffirms Armed Resistance, Calls for State to Prioritise Israeli Threat

Sheikh Naim Qassem rejects calls for disarmament, urging Lebanon to confront enduring Israeli aggression

Beirut, PUREWILAYAH.COM — In a solemn televised address marking the 40th day since the martyrdom of Major General Mohammad Saeed Izadi, Hezbollah Secretary‑General Sheikh Naim Qassem once again dismissed calls for the group to disarm. He asserted that Lebanese authorities should instead concentrate on countering decades of Israeli hostility, which he described as the root issue affecting national stability.

Speaking at a ceremony commemorating Izadi—an esteemed IRGC commander—Sheikh Qassem reaffirmed Hezbollah’s commitment to Lebanon’s defence. He emphasised that the resistance is a “covenantal matter” grounded in national consensus, rather than a decision that can be imposed by political factions or international actors.

Invoking the 1989 Taif Agreement, which ended Lebanon’s civil war, Qassem said that armed resistance remains a cornerstone of state sovereignty, not to be sacrificed for appeasement. He warned that ditching resistance for the sake of external pressures—particularly from the U.S. and certain Arab states—would ultimately serve Israel's agenda, not Lebanon’s interests.

He called upon Lebanon’s government to shift its focus: “This is the priority—not disarming to appease the Israeli enemy. We are not doing this because the United States or some Arab countries are pressuring us to do so.” Instead, he insisted, state attention should be devoted to answering crucial questions: How will Lebanon confront Israeli aggression? How will national sovereignty be defended? How can all segments of society join in defence? And when will occupation forces be expelled? (PW)

Source: PressTV